MOROCCAN PRESS REPORTS: SECURITY LEADERS MEET,

UNCLAS RABAT 000289 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV MO SUBJECT: MOROCCAN PRESS REPORTS: SECURITY LEADERS MEET, TANGIER TERROR PLOT EXPOSED ¶1. According to Moroccan Arabic dailies, Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa, Minister-Delegate Fouad Ali Himma, Intelligence Directors Yassine Mansouri and Abdellatif Hammouchi, and other senior police and security officials met over the weekend of February 10 to discuss the creation of a "national anti-terrorism plan" at the National Police Academy in Kenitra, 50 km north of Rabat. ¶2. According to the reports, Benmoussa discussed the arrest of a terrorist cell in Tangier which was planning to perpetrate terrorist acts in the city. Among the reported targets were two hotels, a major shopping center and key local officials. Himma called for vigilance on the part of all security officials and warned that Morocco is facing a serious terrorist threat. A separate report said the targets included Tangier's Jewish community, and stated that "huge quantities of weapons and explosives were seized." ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Bush